EU Condemns Death Of Azeri Journalist Rasim Aliyev

The European Union condemned on Monday the death on August 9 of the journalist Rasim Aliyev, who was allegedly attacked and beaten by supporters of a local soccer player in Baku, Azerbaijan, calling it, “awful news.”

In a statement, the spokesperson from the European Union External Action office said, “We express our sincere condolences to his family, colleagues and friends,” while at the same time called for a full and transparent investigation of this case has to be conducted to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

“The EU supports the principles of freedom of expression and freedom of the media, which are fundamental elements of a democratic society,” the statement read, adding that, “Azerbaijan needs to promote a safe environment for journalists and other media representatives, enabling them to carry out their work without fear of violence or persecution.”